I can’t say enough about the skiing experience in Park City, Utah. We had been there 14 years ago with our sons. In fact, it was there that they first learned to ski — at Deer Valley’s acclaimed ski school. Over the years we visited other highly acclaimed ski towns (Whistler, Aspen, Vail), but after each trip — as fun as they were — my husband and I always found ourselves saying we liked Park City the best. First off, we can get a direct flight into Salt Lake City, and from there, you can literally be at the base of the slopes in 40 minutes. Plus, Park City is also a very pedestrian friendly town. Depending on where you are staying, you may not even need a car during the course of your stay. We have always stayed at Marriott’s Summit Watch, right at the base of Main Street, which is lined with shops, restaurants, and art galleries. (We are Marriott Vacation Club owners, but you can stay at Marriott’s Summit Watch even without time share ownership, depending on availability.) And, of course, then there’s the skiing… Apparently even residents of Colorado come to Utah to ski. Typically the... Read more →
Gluten Free Travel
I realize it’s been some time since I’ve posted. But like most of you, our family has radically limited our travel since the pandemic began. However, to wrap up our summer before taking our boys to college, we planned a 5-night trip out to the San Diego area and stayed at the historic Hotel Del Coronado. Also known as "The Hotel Del" or just "The Del," it sits across the San Diego Bay from San Diego in the town of Coronado, on a strip of shoreline that's part of a narrow peninsula, easily accessible from San Diego by bridge or ferry. While I typically expect that resorts of this caliber will have plenty of gluten free options on the menus (and have them well labeled), that isn’t always the case based on our travel experiences. However, we were beyond impressed with how the Hotel Del goes the extra mile to make dining a relaxed and low-stress experience for anyone needing or opting for a gluten free diet. Gluten Free Notations on the Menus Make Dining Easy. From the first night, when we dined al fresco at Serea, right in the heart of the resort, we were greeted with an impressive... Read more →
The Inn on Randolph is a dedicated gluten free Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Napa and the glorious wine country. The original owner was gluten free herself, and the new owners have kept the establishment totally gluten free. This historic 19th century property and its buildings were fully renovated in 2012. The Inn immediately began receiving great reviews and accolades for its food and blend of charm and modern luxuries -- and has since become the #1 rated B&B in Napa. The decor of the Inn is hip, fresh, and luxurious with a whole new attitude. Run by young, innovative innkeepers, this stunning Napa property has become the destination of choice for savvy travelers who want the intimacy of a Bed and Breakfast Inn with the elegance and amenities of a boutique hotel. It's a perfect place to get away to right now if you need a getaway...but don't want to be among large crowds. And don't forget...harvest season in the wine country isn't too far off, so check their availability now to experience this amazing annual event. Amenities include heated bathroom floors and sumptuous beds that have become the talk of the travel sites. Outside you'll find... Read more →
I've been working with Lesley Hayden-Hock at Travel Leaders for about a decade now. I've used her personally to plan many of our family's trips (domestic, international, and cruises), and I've referred countless gluten free families to her over the years. Lesley has mastered the questions to ask resorts and cruises when booking clients who have special dietary needs, whether they be gluten free, dairy free, or have other sensitivities. She works with the Food and Beverage Directors directly and has developed great working relationships with a wide range of high-end resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean where service is top-notch. Many of these resorts are also what's called "gourmet all-inclusive." Lesley's clients always get special VIP treatment. The resorts understand how to keep gluten free diners safe, and they aim to please. They even go so far as arranging for new dedicated gluten free toasters -- and bake a special cake or cupcakes for a gluten free child's Birthday. It ends up being a vacation for everyone! After all, in today's "do it yourself" world, we all often try to juggle too much. If you're like me, you may find there just aren't always enough hours in the day... Read more →
Speaking from experience, London is one of the most fun -- and most gluten-free friendly -- cities for families. Our own family visited there over Christmas 2013. Even though our boys were only 10 and 12 years old at the time, they really got a lot out of the experience and still talk about the things we did while there. So I was especially excited to hear that one of our travel partners -- Ellen Morse of Gluten Free Travel-Us -- was planning a 6-day small group tour of London in July 2020, especially geared to gluten free families. She handles all the details, so you won't have to stress about planning anything -- either before the trip or while you're there. And if for some reason you aren't interested in traveling with a group (or the date doesn't work for you), Ellen can certainly plan the same trip for you at another time of your choosing. As with any of her itineraries, you can customize it according to your family's interests and preferences, budget, and time frame. If you plan to go on your own (not the group trip), you will have your choice of either a high-end hotel... Read more →
Iceland has become the most popular destination of the Nordic countries over the past 5 years, due to its stunning landscape and the unique experiences to be had. Imagine walking on glaciers, viewing geothermal hot spots and lava fields, bathing in geothermal healing waters, standing on the "Bridge Betweeen the Continents" connecting the American and Eurasian tectonic plates, and visiting volcanic craters, gorgeous waterfalls, black sand beaches, and the house where Reagan and Gorbachev met to begin the process of ending the Cold War. And, of course, there is charming Reykjavik to explore at your leisure, with all of its shops, cafes, and nightclubs. This itinerary has been put together by Ellen Morse of Gluten Free Travel-Us, in conjunction with an owner of the travel company Nordic Destinations, who also happens to be gluten free. As always, working with Ellen will ensure all your gluten free needs are taken care of, both at the hotel where you will stay (breakfast is included each day) and at the restaurants that she will recommend to you. Keep in mind that, although you get the benefit of "group pricing," this is not a group tour. You can travel whenever you want and with... Read more →
It's not often you run across a completely gluten free resort, but alas, there's one nestled in a prime spot in Costa Rica. Anamaya is a completely gluten free resort specializing in yoga retreats, surfing, scuba diving, or just relaxing! They welcome everyone from complete beginners to more experienced yogis and surfers. (Or you can opt to just enjoy a beach vacation there -- full of snorkeling and local exploring.) "Anamaya" is Sanskrit for "good health," an ideal the resort's staff works very hard to promote through healthy meals, relaxation, exercise, and lots of fun. Anamaya offers weekly yoga retreats, yoga teacher trainings, a variety of workshops, gourmet organic meals, luxurious spa services and array of retreat vacation packages, all situated atop a cliff edge with one of the best ocean views in Costa Rica. There are also optional excursions to popular spots in Costa Rica and an optional scuba certification program. The resort is located in the tropical beach town Montezuma, just 25 minutes from Santa Teresa and its famous surf spots. Anamaya Resort has been 100% gluten-free for years now. The resort was inspired to become gluten-free after Chef Jeff Horton joined the staff. Chef Jeff made it... Read more →
Our school system always gives kids a 4-day weekend in late October/early November at the end of the first quarter, and it affords families a nice opportunity to take a short trip when other areas of the country aren't on break. Therefore, you can travel at an off time when you can enjoy fewer crowds and better prices, no matter where you go! Our son, a junior in high school, wanted to visit the Georgia Tech campus, so this gave us an excuse to visit Atlanta -- a town we hadn't traveled to in 20 years. It was great visiting in early November, when the weather is a bit cooler! We stayed with some good friends in the area and also got to visit relatives. Of course, we managed to squeeze in some sightseeing, scooter riding, and wonderful gluten free meals, to boot! Within an hour of landing and renting a car, we stopped at Hell Yeah Gluten Free Bakery, near Inman Park. It's a good thing we swung by here when we did (just before lunchtime), as they were already running out of some of their more popular items. Their specialty is fresh-made donuts, so we got an assortment... Read more →
If you love Italy but have already been to some of the popular tourist destinations like Rome, Florence, and Venice, you may want to consider a more "off the beaten path" tour of one of Italy's many beautiful and less touristy areas. This is Bluone Tours' specialty: guided, small group tours to many of the regions of Italy known for their history, medieval hilltop towns, religious sites, vineyards, olive groves, beaches, scenic vistas, and, of course, regional food and wine specialties. Fortunately, Italian restauranteurs are typically very well-versed about Celiac Disease and how to prepare safe gluten free meals for diners that require them. However, in some of these "less traveled" areas outside the big cities, it's smart to have an Italian-speaking guide who can make arrangements with the restauranteurs in advance -- and act as an advocate and liaison when arriving at the restaurant. After all, English is not always spoken as fluently by restaurant workers in these more provincial areas as it is in the big cities. But all of this is no worry when you travel with Bluone Tours. Marcello and Raffaella Tori, the couple that owns Bluone Tours, accompany all tour groups and have experience with... Read more →
It has been quite a ride over the past 12 years serving the gluten free community. When I first launched GlutenFreeTravelSite back in April 2008, "Celiac" and "gluten free" weren't yet household terms. Many people weren't even aware of what they meant...not to mention how someone avoiding gluten would be able to dine out, travel, and attend social events involving food. That's why I launched the website, just a few short years after our own son was diagnosed with Celiac at age two. I felt the need to educate those recently diagnosed and to provide hope that, yes, there were indeed places we could all go and get a safe and delicious meal. It just took a bit of effort to find them.... So that's what GlutenFreeTravelSite -- and later our Dine Gluten Free mobile app -- set out to do. We gave the gluten free community a way to share their experiences dining out and traveling with others who needed to be sure they wouldn't get sick when venturing out. We made it easy to find and read peer reviews of places in the U.S. and all over the world that took gluten free dining seriously. We were the... Read more →
VISIT THIS DREAM DESTINATION AND STAY SAFELY GLUTEN FREE South Africa has long been a popular destination, but many gluten free travelers have been hesitant to visit Cape Town or go on safari out of concern that they wouldn't be able to safely follow their gluten free diet. Now, thanks to travel agent Ellen Morse of Gluten Free Travel-Us, who has Celiac herself, this destination is a possibility for anyone following a strict gluten free diet. Ellen has worked with SITA World Tours, a top travel company based in South Africa. Together, they have thoroughly vetted hotels, safari camps, and restaurants in order to find the safest possibilities for gluten free clients. Ellen will take care of all your gluten free needs while also getting you the most advantageous pricing available through SITA World Tours. This is not a group tour, however. Like all Ellen's suggested itineraries for amazing destinations around the world, you can travel at any time, choose your desired length of stay, and customize the trip based on your interests. You'll visit Cape Town and see the harbor, Table Mountain, the downtown area and central business district, the Castle of Good Hope, and scenic vistas...and also take... Read more →
Brazil has long been a popular destination for Europeans, and they still flock there for the gorgeous beaches and amazing sights such as Corcovado. It is a great option for Americans, as there is little if any issue with time zone adjustments, and the exchange rate is in our favor right now. (Also, please note that the Amazon fires are way off in a different part of the country than what you'd be seeing, so there are no issues regarding that.) This is a unique itinerary you won't find elsewhere. Ellen Morse of Gluten Free Travel-Us (gluten free herself for decades) has worked with Condor Tours and Travel and local suppliers to ensure a safe gluten free experience. No one else is offering this ability to see the highlights outlined below with the vetting that Ellen and Condor have done. And, as always, this is NOT a group tour, but it can be taken any time and adjusted to your individual timing and travel preferences. You'll start your journey in Rio de Janeiro, whose inhabitants call it the “Marvelous City.” Located on the Bay of Guanabara, Rio has a mountainous landscape that contrasts with an intensely blue sea. Here the... Read more →